President Muhammadu Buhari has said he would hand over power to Senator Kashim Shettima, the vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the standard-bearer of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023.
Buhari humorously said: “I will respond to your speech when I am handing over to you and your boss. God willing, you are going to win,” Wednesday, while responding to speech by Shettima.
President Buhari, who received the VP candidate shortly after he was unveiled by the leadership of the party and Tinubu, said he is very happy with the choice of the former governor of Borno State as running mate.
“I wish you the best. Your consistency in the party is very respectful. You served your two terms as governor and finished well. You have kept touch with your base.
“At every important occasion or event, you are maintaining support for the one who succeeded you.
This is commendable,” he said.
In his remarks, the vice presidential candidate thanked the president for his “empathy, support and positive role,” leading to his emergence as running mate to the APC presidential candidate.
He praised the president for having “a special place in your heart for Borno and North-East,” adding, “I can cite 20-30 instances of support you have rendered, for which you will be remembered.”
The former governor of Borno State requested the president to appreciate his successor, Babagana Zulum, who was in his company, along with the Minister of State, Agriculture, Mustapha Baba Shehuri, for spurning “recurring mention” of him and pressure from his governor colleagues to bid for the vice presidential ticket.
The candidate pledged to remain “loyal and devoted” to the president, promising that his vice presidency will not be for the “troika of Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri,” but for all Nigeria, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or geographical place of origin.
